Shoe retention strap

ABSTRACT

A shoe retention strap device, particularly adapted for use with shoes without upper structure at the heel portion of the shoe, comprises an elongated elastic strap formed in three loop portions, opposed coupling portions and a bottom part which may be slipped over the shoe and retained engaged with the outsole just forward of the heel. A person&#39;s foot may be placed through the loop portions and into the shoe whereby forward and aft loop portions engage the foot and the heel portion of the foot and a third loop portion engages the ankle.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. U.S. 60/749,543, filed Dec. 12, 2005.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many shoe styles are configured such that there is no support for the heel portion of the foot with respect to keeping the shoe snuggly attached to the foot. Shoe styles known as slides or mules, for example, do not have a vamp portion or other support at the heel of the shoe to assist in retaining the shoe secured to the foot. Although these shoe styles are popular, persons wearing such types of shoe eventually realize that further support is desirable or necessary. Heretofore, such additional support has not been available and the popularity and aesthetic appeal of shoes that have no support for the heel has been compromised. However, the present invention overcomes the disadvantages of the type of shoe described hereinabove and provides a functional as well as aesthetically pleasing support for retaining such shoes suitably secured to a person's feet.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a support device for use with strapless or backless shoes, particularly, women's shoes without upper structure at the heel portion of the shoe.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a strap-like device is provided to stabilize a person's foot in a shoe and to retain the foot firmly in contact with the shoe. The strap device is detachable and interchangeable and may be worn with virtually any shoe without upper structure at the heel portion of the shoe and without altering the design or structure of the shoe itself.

The shoe retention strap device of the invention further benefits the user or wearer in that the device prevents the heel portion of the foot from lifting away from the insole of the shoe as the wearer walks. The shoe retention strap also prevents trousers from being caught between the foot and the heel portion of the shoe as a person walks in shoes of the general type described herein. Additional benefits provided by the invention include stability of the foot in the shoe when walking in strapless or backless shoes as well as providing stability when a person wearing such types of shoes is driving a motor vehicle, for example.

Still further, the shoe retention strap device of the invention is preferably provided as a continuous strap which may be formed of a resilient or elastic material and is provided with, essentially, three closed loops for retaining the foot firmly attached to the shoe at the heel portion of the shoe. The strap is formed with two opposed coupling portions which provide for retaining the strap loops properly positioned while allowing flexing and movement of the strap while in use to prevent discomfort or injury to the foot.

Those skilled in the art will further appreciate the above-mentioned advantages and superior features of the invention together with other important aspects thereof upon reading the detailed description which follows in conjunction with the drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the shoe retention strap device of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the strap device retaining a foot firmly in a dress shoe, such as a mule;

FIG. 3 is a detail view taken generally from the line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a detail view taken generally from the line 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a rear view of the foot and shoe shown in FIG. 2 showing the strap device of the present invention in a working position;

FIG. 6 is a front view of the foot shown in FIGS. 2 and 5 also illustrating the strap device in its working position;

FIG. 7 is a further perspective view showing the strap device attached to the shoe shown in FIGS. 2, 5 and 6;

FIG. 8 is a detail view taken generally from the line 8-8 of FIG. 6; and

FIG. 9 is a detail view taken generally from the line 9-9 of FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In the description which follows, like parts are marked throughout the specification and drawing with the same reference numerals, respectively. The drawing figures are not necessarily to scale and certain features may be shown exaggerated in scale or in somewhat generalized or schematic form in the interest of clarity and conciseness.

Referring to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a shoe retention strap device in accordance with the invention and generally designated by the numeral 10. The strap device 10 may take various forms but, preferably, comprises a continuous elongated strap formed of a resilient or elastic material such as braided elastic strapping. Strap device 10 is formed with a first closed loop portion 12 formed by opposed strap segments 14 and 16 which cross at a first coupling 18, see FIG. 6 also, a second closed loop portion 20, FIG. 1, provided by strap segments 22 and 24 which cross at a coupling 26, FIG. 1 and FIG. 5, and a third closed loop portion 28 formed by strap segments 30 and 32, FIG. 1 and FIG. 5. Strap segments 14 and 16 are integrally joined at a bottom part 34, FIG. 1, and strap segments 30 and 32 are also integrally joined at bottom part 34, and are aligned side-by-side with strap segments 14 and 16. Accordingly, the strap portions or segments 30, 32 and 14, 16 forming loops 12 and 28 may be secured to each other by various means including stitching 36 and/or welding or gluing the strap segments together, FIG. 1, to form bottom part 34.

As mentioned previously, the strap device 10 may be formed of a continuous piece of resilient or elastic strapping and opposed ends of the continuous piece may be joined at the bottom part 34 by stitching 38, for example. Those skilled in the art will recognize that other forms of connection of the loops 12 and 28 to form the bottom part 34 may be utilized. Still further, those skilled in the art will also recognize from the foregoing description and from viewing the drawing figures that strap segment 14 is preferably integrally joined to strap segment 22 which is preferably integrally joined to strap segment 30, which is integrally joined to strap segment 32, which is integrally joined to strap segment 24, which is integrally joined to strap segment 16 and which is joined to strap segment 14 at the stitching 38.

Referring further to FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, the coupling 26 may be formed by providing the strap retention device as a continuous double layer of strap material to form the strap segments, as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, and wherein the double layer of strapping material is suitably secured to itself by stitching 40 except at the coupling portion 26 and coupling portion 18 wherein the layers of strapping material are not secured to each other. For example, gaps or openings 42 and 44, FIGS. 3 and 4, are provided so that, as the strap segments cross at the coupling portions, such as the coupling portion 26, they remain loosely secured or coupled to each other. Thus loops 20 and 28 are loosely coupled to each other to allow some sliding movement of the crossing strap segments while retaining the strap segments connected to each other which provides for adjustment of the strap retention device when being worn to retain a shoe on a foot, as illustrated, and as to be further described.

Accordingly, the aforementioned continuous strap which provides the device 10 may be formed of either a continuous double layer of strapping or a single layer of strapping with short segments of double layer at the couplings 18 and 26, respectively. Thus, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the continuous strap provided by the aforementioned double layers of strapping comprise a first layer 10 a and a second layer lob which are secured to each other by the stitching 40, and/or by welding or gluing, see FIGS. 3 and 4. In FIG. 3, the strap segment 30 is joined to or becomes the strap segment 22 integrally at the coupling 26 and, as shown in FIG. 4, the strap layers 10 a and 10 b of strap segments 24 and 32 are joined by the stitching 40 except at the opening 44 at which point the integrally joined strap segments 22 and 30 are coupled to the integrally joined strap segments 24 and 32, loosely, as illustrated.

In like manner, the coupling 18 is formed at the point of crossover of the strap segments which form the loops 12 and 20. As shown in FIGS. 6, 8 and 9, the strap layers 10 a and lob, FIGS. 8 and 9, are secured together by stitching 40 except at respective openings 46 and 48. Opening 46 is formed at the juncture of strap segments 22 and 14 integrally joined at coupling 18 and strap segments 16 and 24 are integrally joined at coupling 18, FIG. 9, to form the coupling to allow adjustment of the strapping of the device 10 for purposes of comfort as well as support.

Referring now to FIGS. 2, 5, 6 and 7, the shoe retention strap device 10 is illustrated in a working position retaining a shoe 60 to a person's foot 62 and ankle 64. The shoe 60 may comprise various shoe styles, sizes and shapes but, by way of example, the shoe illustrated is a typical woman's dress shoe having an outsole 63, a relatively high spike-like heel 65 and a vamp or upper part 66 covering only the front part of the foot 62. Accordingly, in order to assist in retaining the shoe 60 firmly attached to the foot 62, the retention device 10 is attached to the shoe and the foot, as illustrated.

In a preferred manner of donning the strap retention device 10, the device is first slipped over the shoe by, for example, placing the toe 67 of the shoe through the loops 28 and 12 sufficiently far so that the bottom 34 of the device 10 is disposed just forward of the heel 65, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 7. The foot 62 is then placed through the loop 20 and the loop 12 into the shoe 60 and moving the foot forward firmly into the upper 66. The heel portion 62 a, FIGS. 2 and 5, of the foot 62 is then placed through the loop 28 and the loop 20 is adjusted for comfort of the foot by placing the coupling portion 18 at an upper front part 62 b, FIGS. 2 and 6, of foot 62 as it merges with ankle 64. The device 10 can be detached from the foot 62 by stretching the strap segments 22 and 24, for example, while removing the foot from the shoe 60.

Although the couplings 18 and 26 are advantageous for adjustment of the device 10 and for comfort while using the device, the couplings 18 and 26 may be fashioned otherwise. The strap segments may be fastened to each other at the couplings 18 or 26 by a buckle, by a button or by a slide device, for example. Moreover, the strap segments may be permanently secured to each other at the couplings 18 and 26 by stitching, for example. Still further, the strap segments may be fastened to each other at the couplings 18 and/or 26 by hook and loop type fasteners, such as VELCRO brand, or by snap type fasteners.

Still further, although the bottom 34 is formed by joining the strap segments which form the loops 12 and 28 to each other at the stitching 36, FIG. 1, the strap segments forming these loops may be joined to each other to form the bottom 34 by other means including laces, a buckle type fastener, a slide fastener, a ribbon fastener, a snap fastener, a hook and loop fastener, or the strap segments forming the loops 12 and 14 may simply be left disconnected from each other, if desired. Still further, the strap segments forming the device 10 may be adjustable by incorporating plastic and/or metal fasteners into any one of the strap segments forming the respective loops 12, 20 and 28 and by providing various fastening means including buckles, snap fasteners, hook and loop fasteners or buttons and button holes, for example. Lastly, the straps segments, if left disconnected at the bottom 34, may also be secured to the shoe by wrapping the strap around the heel 65 to assist in retaining the device connected to the shoe.

As mentioned previously, the strap material is preferably braided elastic forming a double layer, such as the layers 10 a and lob secured to each other by suitable stitching and/or welding or gluing except at the couplings 18 and 26, as illustrated and described. However, the material forming the device 10 may be other than that described. A preferred width of the strap material forming the strap segments of the device 10 may be about 0.38 inches, although different widths may be provided for aesthetic or comfort purposes. At least five different sizes of device 10 may be provided to cover a conventional range of shoe and foot sizes.

The construction and use of the device 10 is believed to be within the purview of one skilled in the art based on the foregoing description. Although a preferred embodiment of the device has been described in detail, those skilled in the art will also recognize that various substitutions and modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the appended claims. 

1. A shoe retention device for retaining the heel portion of a shoe attached to a person's foot comprising: first, second and third loop portions formed by respective opposed strap segments wherein strap segments forming at least two of the loop portions are aligned side-by-side for placement under an outsole of a shoe forward of a heel of said shoe, one of said first and second loop portions receiving a forward portion of a foot, the other of said the first and second loop portions receiving a heel portion of said foot and said third loop portion is disposed generally around an ankle of said foot of the person wearing the device.
 2. The device set forth in claim 1, wherein: said strap segments are formed of an elastic material.
 3. The device set forth in claim 1, wherein: said device is formed of a continuous length of strap secured to itself.
 4. The device set forth in claim 1, wherein: said loop portions of said device are joined to each other at opposed couplings defining, in part, said loop portions.
 5. The device set forth in claim 4, wherein: strap segments forming said loop portions are joined to each other at said couplings.
 6. The device set forth in claim 5, wherein: said couplings are configured to allow limited movement of strap segments forming said loop portions relative to each other at said couplings.
 7. The device set forth in claim 6, wherein: said couplings are formed by opposed layers of strap material secured to each other but defining openings for receiving portions of an opposed strap segment defining parts of said loop portions, respectively.
 8. A shoe retention device for retaining the heel portion of a shoe attached to a person's foot comprising: first, second and third loop portions formed by respective opposed strap segments wherein strap segments forming at least two of the loop portions are formed of an elastic material and are aligned side-by-side for placement under an outsole of a shoe forward of a heel of said shoe, one of said first and second loop portions receiving a forward portion of a foot, the other of said the first and second loop portions receiving a heel portion of said foot, said third loop portion is disposed generally around an ankle of said foot of the person wearing said device, and said loop portions of said device are joined to each other at opposed couplings defining, in part, said loop portions.
 9. The device set forth in claim 8, wherein: said device is formed of a continuous length of strap secured to itself.
 10. The device set forth in claim 8, wherein: strap segments forming said loop portions are joined to each other .at said couplings.
 11. The device set forth in claim 10, wherein: said couplings are configured to allow limited movement of strap segments forming said loop portions relative to each other at said couplings.
 12. The device set forth in claim 11 wherein: said couplings are formed by opposed layers of strap material secured to each other but defining openings for receiving portions of an opposed strap segment defining parts of said loop portions, respectively.
 13. A shoe retention device for retaining the heel portion of a shoe attached to a person's foot comprising: first, second and third loop portions formed by respective opposed strap segments wherein strap segments forming at least two of the loop portions are aligned side-by-side for placement under an outsole of a shoe forward of a heel of said shoe, one of said first and second loop portions receiving a forward portion of a foot, the other of said the first and second loop portions receiving a heel portion of said foot and said third loop portion is disposed generally around an ankle of said foot of the person wearing said device, said device is formed of a continuous length of elastic strap secured to itself, said loop portions are joined to each other at opposed couplings defining, in part, said loop portions, and strap segments forming said loop portions are joined to each other at said couplings.
 14. The device set forth in claim 13 wherein: said couplings are configured to allow limited movement of strap segments forming said loop portions relative to each other at said couplings.
 15. The device set forth in claim 14 wherein: said couplings are formed by opposed layers of strap material secured to each other but defining openings for receiving portions of an opposed strap segment defining parts of said loop portions, respectively. 